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I'm a little confused here. I thought the last day of the TDF is when they are in Paris on Sat.. But the schedule says the last stage is a time trial on Sat. Is Sat. the day they enter Paris & the individual TT?

Sunday is just a stroll in the park for the riders. It's the day they have the 1-2-3 photo shots of the riders holding glasses of champagne and riding along holding hands. The motorcycle crews have their day of fun as well doing silly shots with the cameras. The distance is not long enough to make it competitively useful, though there have been exceptions in the past. The last stage is the pinnacle for the sprinters as no stage win rivals the Champs Elysees (sp?) in Paris.

I think the rules of the last stage give all riders the same time if they finish within 1km of the first rider to cross the line? As it's a flat stage, don't expect anything dramatic apart from the flat-out boys.

The tour will be won by Armstrong or by Ulrich on the Saturday TT. Sunday will not make a difference.

Originally posted by shokhead Anybody know whats the avg size bike in the tdf?55,56?Do they use same size tires in all the stages?

For the most part, the wheels are the same. The riders might use specific wheels that come from their team cars, but there are general service cars that carry a collection of wheels provided by the organisers. If a rider can't make his team car, he'll have to settle for what the general service car provides. With the exception of the disc wheels in the time trials, few riders have ever been found wanting for a spare wheel.